Surname Weigardt - Meaning and Origin

Weigardt: What does the surname Weigardt mean?

The last name Weigardt is a German name most commonly found among people with German ancestry. It is derived from the German words “wieg” meaning protect or guard, and “hardt” originating from Old German to define a person's status, usually from a noble family background. Therefore, Weigardt can be taken to mean “protector” or “guard” of something.

Along its namesake, the Weigardt family seems to be one that values stewardship and care for the things that it is responsible for. To Weigardts, protection comes first, and that probably explains why many members of the family take up professions like the military, law enforcement, construction engineering, and architecture.

At the same time, the name can also be seen to reflect a sense of honor. Being from a noble family background, historically the Weigardts had the privilege to protect and serve their community, and they embraced that role in a way that signified importance and respect. That is why today, members of the Weigardt family still cherish the role of protector and that is likely something that most Weigardts are very proud of.

In summary, the last name Weigardt carries a strong sense of honor, responsibility, and protection, values that can still be felt by members of the Weigardt family today.

Weigardt: Where does the name Weigardt come from?

The last name Weigardt is most common in Germany, where it is estimated that there are over 3,000 people with the surname. It is also present, though in smaller numbers, in other European countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

Weigardt is also present in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand thanks to immigration from Europe. However, the frequency is small, with the name being most common in the regions of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, and Minnesota.

The Weigardt surname originates from a noble family of German knights and is classed as an occupational surname. The literal translation from German is "watchman," and it is thought that those bearing the name were responsible for security roles, which further explains the frequency in Germany.

Thanks to immigration, the Weigardt last name is present in many places around the world, though its frequency is significantly lower than in its home country of Germany.

Variations of the surname Weigardt

Weigardt is a surname of German origin and is found mostly in western and central Germany. Variants of Weigardt include Weißgärtner, Weißgartner, Weegaertner, Wagardt, Weegardt, Wiegerd, Weygand, Weygandt, and Wiegand.

The spelling variations for Weigardt are due in part to the fact that prior to the 17th century, the German language did not have a spelling system in place. In some cases, thirty or more variations of the same name had developed over the centuries. Some names were created by different dialects, adding to the variations and spellings.

The surnames of Weigardt and Weißgärtner (spelled with an umlaut) are closely related and are thought to arise from the German word “Weissgarten” or “Weissgartner”, which translates to “white garden” or “white gardener”. This may have signified white-haired farmers who worked in the fields, as well as official court gardeners.

Weygand and Weygandt are derived from a German word meaning “field” or “corner of a field”, in reference to people who owned, tended, or lived near a small plot of land.

And finally, Wiegand comes from the Germanic word vīg/wīg, meaning “battle” or “conflict”, making it a fairly common surname amongst warriors and soldiers from the Middle Ages.

In summary, Weigardt is an ancient German surname with many variations based on historical and regional differences, and is related to other names such as Weißgärtner, Weegaertner, Wagardt, Weegardt, Wiegerd, Weygand, Weygandt, and Wiegand.

Famous people with the name Weigardt

• Daniel Weigardt (swimmer and Olympic gold medalist)
• Kay Weigardt (retired college basketball coach)
• Thorvald Weigardt (Norwegian politician)
• Keith Weigardt (American politician)
• Cathrine Weigardt (swedish author)
• Peder Weigardt (Norwegian politician)
• Berit Weigardt (Norwegian politician)
• Erna Weigardt (Norwegian politician)
• Per Weigardt (Norwegian diplomat)
• Cornelius Weigardt (Danish businessman)
• Peter Weigardt (Danish author)
• Arnold Weigardt (Swiss businessman)
• Rudolf Weigardt (German historian and politician)
• Mattis Weigardt (German botanist and archaeologist)
• Mathilde Weigardt (German photographer)
• Manfred Weigardt (German footballer)
• Eric Weigardt (Austrian designer)
• Rudolph Weigardt (Austrian publisher)
• Magdalena Weigardt (Australian painter and sculptor)
• Fabio Weigardt (Brazilian record producer)

Other surnames

Weigart